CEO Spotlight – Maria Mead, Keiser University

Maria Mead is the Tallahassee Campus President of Keiser University, a private, not-for-profit university, serving nearly 20,000 students and employing 3,800 faculty and staff members. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, the university currently offers more than 100 degrees at 21 Florida campuses, as well as online and at two international sites. Keiser University’s economic impact on the state of Florida is over $3 billion annually and contributes to over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Keiser University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a level VI institution to award certificates and degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral levels.

In today’s society, there is a genuine need for a University that offers its students quality academic and career education in an atmosphere of personalized attention.  Keiser University offers career educational programs that prepare them to enter their chosen career field upon graduation. Other students utilize Keiser University programs as a stepping-stone to further education. Other students may be community residents or business members who attend contract training or University-sponsored seminars.

At Keiser University, each student is considered an individual, and the University strives to be aware at all times of the needs of each member of its student body.  The faculty of Keiser University believes that career education instruction is an art as well as a science. It is a dynamic process that develops both the skill and the intellect of career-minded individuals in its community. Career education is an interactive process on which the future of society depends.  Graduates become technicians, professionals and clinicians who are critical for future economic growth.

Keiser University’s goal is to train career-minded individuals by offering an education that produces an employable, skilled, responsible and accountable person. Keiser University students are prepared to provide professional skills necessary to meet the projected needs of society. Inherent in the goals established for Keiser University is the belief that learning takes place in a variety of ways. For this reason, Keiser University curricula are flexible and incorporate previous knowledge and skills.

Keiser University affirms that all members of the academic community share responsibility for establishing, implementing and evaluating its educational programs. Further, Keiser University believes that members of business and industry must also participate in this process.

Maria is a graduate of Florida State University and received her Masters of Science Degree from Troy University in Counseling and Human Development. Married to Burton F. Mead II, Maria has two Children, Brianna and Dakota Mead. She has been with Keiser University for 28 years and assisted in opening the Tallahassee Campus in 1992. Maria’s driving motivation is to ensure “Student Success” and Keiser University’s “Student’s First” philosophy! Maria’s students know her motto first hand “Failure is not an Option” as she engages in their education and pursuit of their career goals from day 1!!!

Maria is active in the community as a board member of CareerSource, a Council member of the Career Pathway Council and currently participating in Leadership Tallahassee Class 37 (the best class ever).

For additional information regarding Keiser University, please visit www.keiseruniversity.edu.